The Omen X Compact Desktop, formerly the VR backpack
HP released its VR backpack developers kit last year, and ended up cleverly overhauling the product with a dock so that when it's not on your back you can use it as your desktop PC.
View from the back
Tons of connectors
The dock has a reasonable number of connections, including HDMI, DisplayPort and three USB 3.1 Type-A in the back plus a couple in front, as well as a USB-C. When you add in the four Type-A, one Thunderbolt/USB-C, HDMI and Mini DisplayPort on the system itself, that's as much as many full-size desktops.
Pluck it out
When you remove it from the dock, it switches automatically to internal battery power.
Light show
You can change the color of the lighting in software.
Slip into the Backpack harness
Connect to the batteries
When you connect it to the two 73Wh batteries, it switches to that power source.
Pretty comfortable
Stylish venting
In action
Battery
The system comes with two pairs of batteries, each pair rated to last about an hour.
Battery dock
Dongle me
Pattern
The faux carbon fiber pattern is big this year, and HP uses it across all the Omens.
In action
Dear VR headset manufacturers: please leave a hole for a ponytail.
Omen laptops
With more vents, angles and badging, the 2017 models look like gaming systems.
Updated lid look
Improved keyboard
The keyboard layout is much better, with red (as opposed to red backlit) WASD keys and arrow keys set off from the rest of the keyboard.
Light it up
Keyboard backlight controls are just OK: your choices are all red, only the WASD keys lit or off.
WASD
Red and faux carbon fiber accent
Connections
The 15-inch model has a Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, Ethernet, USB 3.1 Type-A, USB-C/Thunderbolt and audio jacks on the left side.
Omen 15 connectors
On the right there are two more USB 3.1 Type-A connectors and an SD card slot.
At rest
Omen 17
The 17-inch moves most of the connectors to the left side to make room for an optional optical drive on the right.
Omen Accelerator
If you have a compatible HP system (with USB-C), you can plug it into the new external GPU unit and turn your underpowered system into a maxed-out gaming PC.
Pack it in
The Accelerator can take up to a GeForce GTX 1070, 256GB SSD and a 1TB hard drive.
Back
Relative size
Omen Desktop
Fierce!
No resemblance
If you've seen its predecessor, you'll realize the 2017 model is a completely different beast.
Look at me!
The essential clear panel.
Back
There's nothing particularly notable about the back, but you can see it's almost all vented. There don't seem to be a lot of ports on the motherboard, though.
Top connectors
Two USB-C ports is nice.
Omen 25 and 27
The new TN displays don't stand out particularly, but they do support reasonably high refresh rates for midrange gaming displays. The HD 25-inch goes up to 144Hz and supports FreeSync, while the QHD 27-inch hits 165Hz and uses G-Sync.
Pairing
For spanning, the bezels aren't that narrow.
Back
Stylish!
New keyboard
HP's new mechanical keyboard is manufactured by the company itself.
WASD
New mouse
You can quickly switch sampling rate for the 12,000 dpi mouse.
Mechanical buttons
Updated headset
HP improved the headset design for improved comform and better low-end sound.
Better fit
Covered cords
All the corded accessories now have woven casings for better durability.